Analysts Predict BB10 Won’t Be Ready Until At Least March 2013

If the analysts have it right, it looks like BlackBerry is going to miss out on another holiday season before they’re able to launch their new operating system, which doesn’t sound like good news for Research in Motion. Forbes is reporting that the long-awaited BB10 platform could take until March 2013 before it launches.

Peter Misek, an analyst for Jefferies, wrote in a research note, “We had hoped for a January launch but now see a March launch as more likely.” As a result of this, Misek predicts a grim quarterly report for both the November quarter and the February quarter, since neither time period will bring much in the way of new products from the ailing Canadian smartphone maker.
Despite this delay, Misek remains optimistic about the potential for BB10 to find a market. He writes, “We still believe a third ecosystem [in addition to iOS and Android] will emerge, but the probability of BB10 filling the role is wholly dependent on whether RIM can convince Samsung, Huawei, and ZTE to license.”
In regards to the possible threat Windows Phone 8 may pose to BB10, Misak says the Microsoft mobile OS is “somewhat of a threat, but conflicting reviews, less-than-stellar developer feedback, and a desire by Microsoft to make hardware directly” will open the door for BlackBerry to steal the number three spot.